Abstract

Research suggests that parental divorce affects important aspects of offspring's later life, especially their own marital/personal life. The present study explores the long-term effects of parental divorce on UK and Greek young adults, exploring the mediating role of nationality on divorcees' offspring’s possible selves concerning future family life, friendships and occupation. The sample consisted of 332 Greek and UK postgraduate University students who filled out a questionnaire, based on in depth earlier interviews, concerning possible selves. The study indicated that nationality rather than the status of parental family differentiated to a great extent individual's possible selves, although there were differences in the possible selves between individuals from divorced and intact families for each nationality. Greek and UK divorcees' offspring differed in the possible selves concerning relationships with friends and colleagues with the English being more oriented to friends and colleagues than individuals from intact families. The findings concerning the long-term effects of parental divorce, are considered in terms of cross-cultural differences in attitudes towards divorce and the implications for education.

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Article

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